Representatives from Down Syndrome Ireland were delighted to meet with the Minister for Disabilities Finian McGrath, Fianna Fáil Deputy John Brassil and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin in Leinster House this week to discuss the inclusion of our Kerry Branch as one of the Government’s Personalised Budgets pilot projects.
Pictured are Yann O’Carroll (18), his father Gerard O’Carroll and Patricia Griffin from our Kerry Branch, Minister of State Brendan Griffin, Minister for Disabilities Finian McGrath, Deputy John Brassil, DSI CEO Gary Owens and Kerry Branch Chairperson Risteard Pierce.
Personalised budgets will give people with disabilities, including people with Down syndrome, access to their own HSE disability funding.
Allowing persons with disabilities to make personal choices and exercise independent judgment on how their HSE disability funding is used can have life-enhancing, confidence-building results for adults with Down syndrome.
The Government launched its Personalised Budgets Taskforce Report on Disability Services in 2018, which set out how personalised budgets could work as a funding mechanism for people with a disability, providing them with greater choice and control over the services and supports they receive.
Down Syndrome Ireland were actively involved in the Taskforce since it was established in September 2016. The Task Force recommended that the Department of Health and the HSE should establish pilot projects to test the delivery of personalised budgets.
The Minister confirmed that an announcement will be made on the Pilot Projects in the coming weeks.
We would like to thank both the Minister and Deputies Brassil and Griffin for taking the time to meet with us in Leinster House.
